I spend the silent drive home worrying about Anthony. One of the cop cars has Anthony’s dad in it and he’s livid. He swears his dad is intolerable but not aggressive but Anthony spends a lot of time at his treehouse and I worry anyway. The officer driving the car says nothing to me. I’ve already given him my address but he knows where I live. Of course he does. Everyone knows everyone here.


The closer we get to the house, the worse I feel. I’m not sure if selfish is the right word but it describes how this has felt. Skipped class, risked being in trouble, ignored it, snuck out, broke into the school, drank. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

I think about Angela’s face when she finds out and once again I find a tear sliding down my cheek.


I’m half hoping Violet still won’t be home but I know she will be. It’s late enough. The officer explains what happened when we get to the door and Violet listens carefully.

“Thanks for bringing her home, Tyler.” Violet says quietly, looking at me. The fact that she knows the officer by his first name makes me feel more embarrassed. This is her home. She must be mortified. When the officer leaves, we’re both silent.


“I’m so sorry.” I whisper before she says anything.

“I didn’t even know you weren’t home.” She says half to herself, still trying to figure out what’s happened. I nod but keep my head down. She sighs and I can almost hear her inner dialogue, running through the list of reasons why she shouldn’t have taken in two teens. Her life had been just fine before we showed up.


“You’ve been drinking?” The officer hadn’t said anything about that, but she can tell. I nod. Another sigh.

“I’m sorry.” I say again but I’m not sure it’s helping. She’s just looking at me, thinking. I try to imagine my parents and what they would do. My mom would yell. She’d stomp and storm and send me to my room. Ground me. She’d cry too. My dad? He’d make sure I knew just how dangerous my choices had been and highlight just how upset I’d made my mother. Thinking back, I don’t think he ever actually worried about us. Just made sure we knew that we’d worried mom. He’d checked out of our family long before the maid incident.

I hear footsteps clunking down the stairs.


“What happened?” Angela asks sleepily. When Violet still doesn’t say anything, I explain in as few words as possible and Angela’s mouth drops open.

“You went drinking at the school? What the hell, Lilith? I figured you were just out tromping through the swamps again with your weird nature friend.” Angela snarls. I glare at her. She didn’t need to be rude about Anthony.

“You knew she was out?” Violet asks. Angela freezes and then nods. “I DIDN’T know she’d be drinking. Or breaking and entering.”

Thanks, sister. You’re really helping here. Violet looks back and forth between the two of us.


“Why break into the school to drink anyway?” Angela asks, looking at me closely. She knows I’m not stupid and wouldn’t just break in somewhere with no purpose. I shrug.

“No reason? Really? Just to hang out at school? The place you try to avoid all day?” She moves closer to me. It feels like the old days and I brace for a shove. I hope it doesn’t come to that. I’m embarrassed enough. Fighting with Angela in front of Violet would be the cake topper.

“Well?” She demands. I’m not getting out of this. Violet stares at me as well.


“Anthony took me to the art room. We painted stuff.” I grumble.

“Like graffiti?” Violet’s eyes go wide.

“What? No! Like on a canvas.” I don’t want to explain. I really don’t. I’ve been over it a hundred times today already. Angela just stares at me. Violet looks confused.


“You painted?” Angela asks, suddenly quiet. Her face softens. I nod.

“Really?” She asks. I manage a teensy smile and nod again.


She pulls me close for a giant hug and I close my eyes. It feels nice. It’s been a weird day. When we step apart, Violet is still just standing there, staring at us.


“Ok…” Violet says, clearly confused. Angela looks at me and then takes over.

“Well. I think we’re both grounded.” She says to Violet who raises an eyebrow. “Lilith for more days than me because she’s the one who snuck out.”

“Why are YOU grounded?” Violet asks Angela.

“Because I knew and didn’t tell you. But she gets more time. She’s the one who broke in, drank and got dragged home by the cops.” Angela smirks at me and all I manage is a glare.


“I’m going to need to think about this.” Violet states but she’s considering what Angela has suggested. She’s conflicted. She’s questioning whether it’s the right consequence. I hate how unsure of herself she is. I hate feeling one step away from being sent away.


“We should get to bed.” Angela says, once again taking charge and ushering me back towards the stairs. Violet nods in agreement.

“We can talk in the morning.”

We head upstairs quietly and I get a glare from Angela as we get to our room. “You’re welcome.” She snarls. I can’t even argue with her. She’d kept things calm somehow.

“Thank you,” I whisper.


The next morning is a hectic one and Violet sends the girls off to school without many words. To be honest, she isn’t sure what words to say. Angela had suggested they be grounded. This makes sense, after being brought home by the police. But for how long? A week? Is that too harsh? Not enough? This wasn’t Violet’s area of expertise and she felt so lost.

She was growing quite fond of the girls but feared that her “parenting” would cause them more harm than good.

She smiled at how Angela had hugged her sister after learning about her painting. They cared a great deal for one another and it was beautiful. Could she really punish them? The drinking was bad. Breaking in was bad. But breaking in to paint in the art room? Was it really so bad? She sighs.

A glimpse movement catches her attention and an old friend, Dave Mathers rounds the corner. Her heart flutters at the unexpected visit.


“I heard you had some trouble.” He drawls, his soft southern accent making her smile. It had been awhile since she’d seen him.

“Doesn’t take long for rumours to make the rounds.” She replies, getting up for a hug that feels so familiar she could stay in it forever.

When he pulls back he just looks at her for a moment before asking: “Coffee?”

“I’m guessing by your empty hands, you’re asking for some, not offering.” She rolls her eyes and gets up to brew some coffee. She was sure the man lived on caffeine and sugar. He was a musician, always the late nights but somehow also early mornings.


When she comes back she hands him a cup and they sit quietly for a moment. Enjoying the morning sun, the hot beverage and the company.

Eventually Violet cuts the silence. “You just pop by to save the day?”

He chuckles. “Nah, you don’t need a superhero. Just wanted to see how you were making out with your new...guests. Heard things got exciting last night.” He’s looking at her carefully, trying to assess her mood. She’d never been one to just blurt out her feelings. She just gives him a shrug, making him chuckle again.


“Can I tell you what I think?” He finally asks.

“Do I have a choice?” She smiles back.

“You do. You could cover your ears while I tell you. But that would be rude.”

“Ok, let’s have it.” She says.

“I think it’s great.” He states and waits. “You having these girls here. I don’t know much about them but if their folks just dropped them off, they obviously are in need of some good care. And I think you’re the perfect person to give it.”

“But I…” Violet starts.


“But you’re busy? Too busy? Never home? Can’t stop for a second? Don’t have time for a family?” He cuts her off. And she stops.

“I stopped by the store the other day. It was closed. With a number to call for emergencies. It was dinner time. Spotted Parker nearby and he says you’ve been closing up for a few hours each day. To be home for dinner.” He pauses and Violet isn’t sure where he’s going with this. Is he criticizing her for being busy? Or for closing the shop?

“It’s GOOD, Vi. You’ve been working yourself to the bone for over a decade. And you can still do that. But this is good. I can see that you already care about them and it’s only been what? A month or so? You have a big heart. These girls need you.”

She watches him as he takes a breath. She braces for what he is about to say next. She already knows. She closes her eyes as he says it.

“I’ve always said you’d make an amazing mother.”


“You know that’s not what I’ve wanted. I didn’t want to BE a mother.” She replies. It’s an old argument. The one that had ended their relationship years ago. He sighs.

“But this is different. And it suits you.”

They sit quietly for a while more. Violet thinking back to the many times they’d discussed kids. Settling down. Hiring someone to help at the shop. He’d always been willing to change his lifestyle for her. She’d been the one unwilling to change.


“And what do you suggest I do about the current situation? Lilith being dropped off by the cops. Drunk, having broken into the school.” She asks after a while.

He laughs. “What did your parents do with you? All those times we broke in?”

She shoots him a look. “We were smart enough not to get caught.” A small smile forming.

“You’re overthinking it. You know that. Come up with a consequence, move on. You DO know what you’re doing.” He encourages her. Getting up. It’s her turn to sigh. He’s right, she thinks. She doesn’t need to overthink this.


“You know this is right for you.” He says, reaching over and touching her face. Her breath catches and she reaches up to touch his hand. The comfort in the simple gesture is almost overwhelming.

“Thank you.” She says quietly. He gives a small smile and a nod.


“Do you remember that time we managed to get into the pool when we broke in?” He says with a smirk. She playfully swats his arm and blushes. Remembering very clearly how that night had gone.

“Let’s stop the trip down memory lane before it gets away from us.” She teases. He flashes her a smile and says good-bye.


Lilith

School is a blur and I spend most of the day worrying about how upset Violet is. She barely said a word this morning as we were getting ready for school.

“It’ll be fine.” Angela assures me. “Go talk to her.”

“But what if…” I have this sinking feeling that we’re going to get sent to live with our dad. And I can’t let it go.

“But nothing. Just talk to her. Whatever happens, happens.” She gives me a quick squeeze and we head into the house.


I can’t tell if I’m relieved or more anxious to find that Aunt Violet isn’t home. I should have known she would be at work. Angela and I work on a project and I offer to make dinner again. Working on my best behaviour. As the day turns into evening I can barely sit still. Pacing back and forth.


Eventually I make a hot chocolate and sit outside. The evenings have become cool.


I tense when Violet arrives home and sits beside me.

“Your sister says you’re anxious?” She asks. I’m not sure how to answer that. I nod and just look at her. I’m waiting for her to say she’s called my dad. Or my mom. Or anyone. She seems less confused now than she did last night. Was it because she’d already decided we weren’t her problem anymore. That and a million other doubts are running through my mind when she finally says something.

“I’m not going to call your parents.” She states firmly. I let out a big breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. She looks at me with a sad expression.

“I talked to Angela inside.” She continues. “She says that’s what you’re worried about. Getting sent back?”

I nod again. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have snuck out. And when I knew the plan was to break into the school, I should have said no. I should have…”

“I’m not calling your parents.” She repeats. “I don’t get why they’ve become so distracted with their lives. I’m sure they love you deeply. But for now, they’re not able to take care of you. I’m not going to run and phone them just because things have gotten a bit...out of hand.” She says warmly. I’m waiting for the part where she dishes out the consequence when Angela comes out to join us.


“So, have you got to the part where she’s grounded? For a WEEK.” Angela smiles as she sits down. “A whole week.”

“I was JUST getting to that. I was explaining first that we are going to work through all this together.” Violet tells her. Looking at both of us. Angela smiles and I get the feeling they had had more than a brief conversation inside.

“But yes. You are grounded for a week. Tech for school but not for socializing. Only school and home. For a week.”

“I only got 2 days.” Angela adds in, obviously in a good mood. I haven’t quite pushed passed my anxiousness. Violet turns back to me and places a hand on my knee.

“We’re all going to mess up at some point.” She says. “I’m not about to toss you two off the island.” She winks and I finally let myself smile back, taking a deep breath. I haven’t quite pushed passed my anxiousness. Violet turns back to me and places a hand on my knee.

“We’re all going to mess up at some point.” She says. “I’m not about to toss you two off the island.” She winks and I finally let myself smile back, taking a deep breath.


We chat quietly as the evening fades and eventually Violet shares that she has to go back to the clinic for a vet appointment and to do stock.

“I trust I’ll find you BOTH here, sound asleep when I get home?” She asks. We nod.

“Ok. Then I won’t be terribly late but I’ll see you in the morning.”

Grounded. One week doesn’t seem too bad.